To rotate prerecorded videos on a YouTube livestream from Windows, put their paths in an FFmpeg concat playlist, then feed that playlist to FFmpeg with -stream_loop -1 and -re. YouTube supplies the ingest URL and stream key in Live Control Room. This approach needs a Windows computer running FFmpeg for the entire broadcast, and the source files must be compatible with the chosen concatenation method.
What you need before you start
- A Windows computer with FFmpeg installed and enough capacity to encode the selected video format in real time.
- Local video files arranged in the order you want them to play.
- A YouTube channel with livestreaming available and a stream created in YouTube Studio.
- The server URL and stream key shown for that stream. Treat the key like a password.
This guide sends a prerecorded playlist to YouTube over RTMP. FFmpeg and the computer remain responsible for playback and delivery; closing the terminal, shutting down Windows, or losing the internet connection interrupts the source stream.
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Prepare the playlist and choose a concatenation method
Use the concat demuxer for compatible files
The concat demuxer reads a text file and presents the listed files as one virtual input. For a copy-based join, the files need the same streams, codecs, and time base. A playlist cannot make materially different media formats compatible by itself. Incorrect duration metadata can also cause artifacts as FFmpeg positions one segment after another.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf your files are compatible, create a working folder such as C:livestream and save a text file named playlist.txt inside it. Put one entry per video in the order you want:
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file 'C:/livestream/clip01.mp4'
file 'C:/livestream/clip02.mp4'
file 'C:/livestream/clip03.mp4'Forward slashes in the quoted paths are convenient in this playlist format. The concat demuxer’s safe-path setting defaults to 1, which rejects paths it considers unsafe. This example uses -safe 0 to allow absolute Windows paths. Use it only with a playlist you created and trust, since it disables those path restrictions.
Use the concat filter when the files need re-encoding
When files have incompatible streams or formats, normalize them first or use FFmpeg’s concat filter with re-encoding. The concat filter is the documented route when the workflow needs re-encoding; it requires a different filter-based command from the demuxer example below. Do not assume that adding -c:v libx264 to a demuxer command will resolve every mismatch in stream layout or timing.
The playlist format also supports a duration directive if a file’s duration metadata is inaccurate. Check the media and timing before using an override; incorrect durations can create gaps or artifacts at segment boundaries.
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Create or select the YouTube livestream
- Open YouTube Studio and select Create → Go Live.
- Use the Stream tab to create or select a stream. For a scheduled broadcast, use Manage → Schedule stream to configure its metadata and privacy.
- Copy that stream’s server URL and stream key from Live Control Room. Keep the key secret, including in screenshots, shared command histories, or logs.
YouTube’s encoder setup guidance says to enter the Live server URL and stream key in the encoder settings. Use the values displayed for your stream rather than a guessed ingest address.
Run FFmpeg from Windows
For compatible files that you want to re-encode to H.264 video and AAC audio, open PowerShell or Command Prompt and run this starting pattern. Replace the destination placeholder with the server URL and stream key from YouTube:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i "C:/livestream/playlist.txt" -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -c:a aac -f flv "rtmp://YOUR_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"-rereads prerecorded input at its native rate instead of sending it as quickly as the computer can read it.-stream_loop -1repeats the playlist input indefinitely.-f concatselects the concat demuxer, and-safe 0permits the absolute paths in the example playlist.-c:v libx264and-c:a aacencode video and audio;-preset veryfastis an x264 speed/encoding trade-off, not a guarantee that every computer can keep up.-f flvselects the output container used in this RTMP example.
This is a starting pattern, not a tested universal preset. The example re-encodes rather than stream-copies, which can accommodate more source encodings, but does not eliminate all compatibility, timing, or performance checks. Your resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval should match YouTube’s current encoder recommendations for the stream you selected. The exact current RTMP values are not specified here; check YouTube’s live encoder settings before choosing them rather than relying on a fixed value from an old tutorial.
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Check the preview and start the broadcast
- Leave FFmpeg running and open the stream in Live Control Room.
- Wait for the incoming video preview and inspect the stream status before going live.
- For a scheduled broadcast, click Go live in Studio after the preview appears.
- To finish, stop FFmpeg’s output and use End Stream in Studio where appropriate.
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That statement does not guarantee an archive for a stream lasting 12 hours or longer.
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The command above is an RTMP workflow. HLS is a separate ingestion option for supported encoders and use cases, including HDR or codecs not supported over RTMP; it is not a matter of adding HLS-specific flags to this command. YouTube’s HLS instructions require TS segments lasting 1–4 seconds, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, HTTPS POST/PUT, and no byte-range support. YouTube also notes that HLS has higher latency than RTMP. For an ordinary FFmpeg-to-RTMP setup, use the RTMP path unless you have an HLS-specific requirement and have configured its segment handling accordingly.
Troubleshoot common failures
- FFmpeg rejects a playlist path: Check the spelling, quotation marks, and file location. Absolute paths may require
-safe 0; only use it with a playlist you trust. - Playback breaks or shows artifacts at a file boundary: Confirm that listed files have compatible streams, codecs, and time bases. Check for inaccurate duration metadata; normalize the files or use a concat-filter workflow that re-encodes them if needed.
- The stream is not appearing in Live Control Room: Verify the server URL and key against the selected stream, and make sure FFmpeg is still sending data. Never share the key while troubleshooting.
- The preview appears but the scheduled stream is not live: After the preview arrives, use Go live in Studio for the scheduled broadcast.
- Video stutters or the encoder falls behind: Check whether the computer can encode the selected resolution and frame rate in real time. Reduce the encoding load or choose settings that meet YouTube’s current guidance and your machine’s capacity.
- The playlist runs but the output format is unsuitable: Confirm the output codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval against YouTube’s current encoder settings for the stream. The example command does not set every one of those values.
Copyright and channel-policy checks
Having a video file on your computer does not establish permission to broadcast it. Before looping music, performances, or other material, make sure you have the rights needed for the livestream and any resulting archive. Repeatedly streaming prerecorded material does not by itself establish that a channel complies with YouTube’s monetization or reused-content policies; check the current YouTube rules that apply to your channel and content.
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